Ace PoV

At the end of the day, I looked for Jess but didn’t find her. So, I went to her packhouse. 

Once I got there, I knocked on the door. “Coming! Give me a moment please!” I heard a woman yell. 

The door opened, it was an omega, “Oh, hello sir.”

“Hi.” I smiled warmly.

“Look, w-we’re not closing our pack, so if that’s what you’re here to talk about then please go.” he requested.

“No, I’m not here for that. I’m here to see Jess. I’m her mate, Ace.” I put my hand out politely. She gave me a questioning look but shook it. 

“She’s up in her room. Go ahead.” 

“Thanks.” I smiled and walked past her. I jogged up the house’s stairs and opened the door. I went in to find her dancing on her bed and listening to music. Her loosely curly hair bounced as she jumped. 

She spun in a circle, jumping with a big grin. She was yelling into a hairbrush, “So break me out tonight, I wanna see the sun rising anywhere but here! Oh come with me, this could be the only chance I get, I wanna see the sun rising ever-” she cut off her yelling when she looked down at me. She stepped down off the bed. “H-hey sir,” she mumbled. 

I quietly closed the door, “Hi, how are you?” 

“F-fine,” she murmured. 

“That’s good. You were very cute just then.” I grinned. 

“That was embarrassing, not cute.” She shook her head no. 

“Ohh, it was adorable, baby. You’re fine.” I said as I rested my hands on her shoulders and smiled warmly down at her. The door suddenly slammed open, she jumped in surprise. I felt the collar of my shirt get pulled, I got slammed against the wall in the hall. An arm was against my throat, and a boy had a tight grip on my shirt. “Hello,” I said in a strained tone as I struggled to breathe. 

This guy was an alpha, “Get the fuck away from my baby sister.” he growled.

“Jace! Jace, stop it!” Jess yelled. 

“I don’t care that you’re her mate, don’t even think about touching her in this house with that door closed.”

“Kay, okay, you got it.” I agreed, running out of air. He pulled his arm away and I dropped to my feet. I held a hand to my throat, coughing slightly. “Hello, my na-” He cut me off by punching my jaw with his fist. He kicked me in the stomach, my back banging against the wall. 

I didn’t punch back because that might cause even more strain between me and this person I didn’t know. He kicked me in the stomach a bunch of times until Jess stood in front of him. “Jace, I said stop!” she growled, there wasn’t even a hint of submissiveness in her voice or fear, she sounded like a full-on dominant. 

He froze and took a few steps back, “Fine.” he growled. I turned onto my hands and knees, coughing fit coming. 

I engulfed breaths of air, Jess dropped to her knees, “Are you okay. Ace? Ace?” I felt a kick in my face and I passed out. 

1 Day Later

Ace PoV

My eyes fluttered open and I saw a shiny white ceiling. I winced at the pain in my stomach and slowly sat up. “Ace!” her yelling made my head throb, “Are you okay? How’re you feeling? Actually, lemme get the doctor.”

“Huh? No, baby, I’m fine. Don’t bother the doctor.” I waved my hand lightly. “So how bad is my face, do you think you could still love me?” I chuckled.

Tears were in her eyes, she started laughing quietly, “Yeah, yeah.” 

“I was beat up, I’m fine. You don’t need to cry.” I chuckled. I dragged my legs off the bed and stood up. 

“No, no, you shouldn’t stand up!” she yelled.

“Baby, I’m fine.” I chuckled. I pulled all the chords and things I had on-off. 

“Uh! You can’t be out of bed sir! You’re supposed to have a doctor check you out before you leave.” A nurse said, trying to get me to sit down.

“Fine, but I’m really fine. Go get a doctor.” I ordered and plopped down on the bed.

A doctor came in, “Hello sir, I’m here to run some tests. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

“Sure.” 

“What’s your name?” she asked as she waved a light in front of my eyes. 

“Ace.” 

“Full name.”

I looked over to Jess, “Ace…” I waited a few moments, “Ace Sasha Grey.” I sighed. I heard a snort from Jess. “Yes, yes, it’s very funny! Haha.” 

“What day is it?” she asked in a normal tone, “Follow my fingers.” I followed two of her fingers with my eyes.

“February 13th, but that was the last time I was awake. So it could be later.”

“Okay, any abdominal pain?”

“Why yes, I was kicked in the stomach a bunch of times. But it’s not that bad.” I shrugged. 

“Okay, go and sign out. And you’re good to go.” she grinned.

“Finally.” I shot up and slung an arm over Jess’s shoulder, “Let’s go.” I walked forward until we got to the front desk. I signed the discharge papers and drove with her to my packhouse. 

We walked in and I immediately yanked her up to my room. I fell onto my bed with her in my lap. “I’m very happy to be home.” 

“Shouldn’t you rest for a bit?”

“No way,” I growled.